Rangitoto Island to Waiheke Island

Hi everyone,

On Friday we had a short sail from Islington Bay on Rangitoto Island to Oneroa Bay on Waiheke Island.  We sailed the 8nm under yankee alone with about 10 knots of wind and 1 knot of current with us.

Sunset in Oneroa Bay

Here's a screenshot of our track...

Track

Waiheke island is a popular destination for Auckland locals and international tourists.  High speed ferries deliver folks to the island.  There are lots of cafes and restaurants in the villages, and wineries and breweries inland.  On our first night there were about 80 boats in the bay.  On Saturday night there were about 100.  Felt a little like a busy time at Rottnest.

On Saturday we dinghied ashore and walked to the Mudbrick Vineyard.  It was a 30 minute walk up into the hills overlooking Oneroa village and the bay.  Very nice scenery.

On the beach

Walking past the vineyards.

Nice scenery

Mudbrick Vineyard

At the winery we opted for two 'flights' of four wines.  We sat outdoors overlooking the vineyard with views down to the sea.  Very pleasant.  The flights are very affordable, unlike buying bottles at the vineyard.

Wine Tasting

From Mudbrick we walked back into town.  Along the way we visited the local art gallery which was OK.  Then by accident we discovered a Music Museum in the same building which is very good.  Lots of pianos of many types, and likewise accordions.  And one can play the pianos.  Nic had a go on several, including their harpsicord.

Pianos

Accordions

More pianos

On Sunday we again went ashore, this time to bus to a couple of breweries.  But first we went for a walk to take photos of the bay.

A view of the bay

The island busses are cheap and frequent.  We first visited The Heke Brewery.  We had a flight of beers and a snack.  Hazy IPAs are all the rage in NZ to the flight featured their lager, hazy IPA, IPA and A(merican)PA.  All very nice, especially the APA.  Heke also distills whisky but we decided against sampling them.

Pints of Heke APA

Heke Brewery

Gardens

From Heke we walked for 10 minutes to the co-located Alibi Brewing Co and Tantalus Vineyards.  We sat inside near the bar.  Turns out their brewer was originally from Little Creatures Brewery in WA but recently moved on.  We had a flight of Alibi beers, a snack of beef croquettes, a tasting of four spectacular wines, a pavlova and coffees.  Great service.  All for less than NZD100.  What a treat!

Laden vines

Tantalus vineyard

Wine tasting

In the bar

Pavlova!

Ex-Pavlova!

We caught a bus back to Oneroa village and returned to Zen Again in good spirits.  Twas a great weekend.  Nice to experience civilisation similar to the Swan Valley and Margaret River at home in WA.

Trust all's well where you are!

Kawau Island to Rangitoto Island

Hi everyone,

Yesterday we had a fantastic sail from Bon Accord Harbour on Kawau Island to Islington Bay between Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands.  A 30nm passage in a 20G25+ SW wind.  Again we sailed in company with OCC sv Thestral.

Auckland Ho!

Here are the usual screenshots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

The initial part of the passage was SSE towards Huaroa Point.  This was a nice easy close reach.  As we approached the point Thestral suggested we head for Islington Bay instead of Waikalabubu Bay on the NE tip of Motutapu Island.  This was a challenge since it'd be hard on the wind.

sv Thestral astern

Reaching S towards Huaroa Point

Hardening up at Huaroa Point

Needless to say we took up the challenge.  We laid the island but Thestral bailed and went the other way around.  Tim needs to get his forestay tension sorted.  Zen Again loved the challenge and we all had a great time.  The skipper hand-steered all the way as any "Captain Araldite" naturally should.

Close-hauled with 1 reef (& double-furled yankee)

Rangitoto Beacon on island's W end

Auckland astern

With sv Thestral in Islington Bay

There were about ten boats in Islington Bay.  There's room for many more and the holding is good in 3-6m over mud.  The only seas penetrating the bay were wash from high speed ferries going between Auckland and Waiheke Island.

Quiet morning in Islington Bay

We spent only one night in Islington Bay.  It's a nice spot but having buddy-boated from Marsden Cove to this Bay with sv Thestral they are heading in to Auckland and we'll head east.

Trust all's well where you are!

Omaha Cove to Kawau Island

Hi everyone,

On Tuesday we sailed from Omaha Cove to Bon Accord Harbour on Kawau Island.  Twas a very pleasant 13nm downwind sail in a nice 15G20 NNW-NW breeze.  OCC sv Thestral accompanied us.

Kawau Boating Club and RNZYS Annexe at Bon Accord

Here are the usual screenshots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

It was a lovely sail from Takatu Point onwards when we got out of the seas into flat water.  We zigzagged around a couple of shoals then continued broad reaching SW.  We gybed into Bon Accord Harbour, only only motoring the last few hundred metres to anchor.

Departing Omaha Cove with sv Thestral

Approaching Takatu Point

Approaching Kawati Point on Kawau Island

Sailing into Bon Accord Harbour

On Wednesday we went ashore with single-handing Tim from sv Threstral and walked to the top of the nearby hill.  We left the dinghy at the RNZYS annexe's dock since both it and the Boating Club's dinghy dock have "Private" notices.  It's a nice walk on a good path.  Lots of ferns under the trees.

RNZYS Annexe

Dinghy Dock

Into the forest

View over the harbour

Selfie!

Remains of 19th century smelter

A beer at the Kawau Boating Club

The anchorage in Bon Accord Harbour is open to the W.  During Wednesday a SW wind came in, only 10-15 knots, which made the harbour uncomfortable at anchor.  Seas of nearly 1m penetrated the harbour.  We slept in the saloon that night.  But in the right weather it's a lovely spot with good tucker ashore at the Boating Club.